What skills did it take to be successful as a group?
What creative solutions were suggested and how were they received?
What would an outside observer have seen as the strengths and weaknesses of the group?
What roles did people play?
What did each group member learn about him/her self as an individual?
What other situations (e.g., at school, home or work) are like the activity?
GROUP JUGGLING
Players form a circle. The leader gives each member a number. Consecutively numbered people should not be near each other, but across the circle from each other. The players must then toss a ball starting with person #1 up to the last numbered person who returns the ball to person #1. As the players get used to the pattern with one ball, add another, and another, etc. For smaller children, whose coordination is still developing, use stuffed animals to toss. Lower elementary children can use medium to large nerf balls, while junior high and above can use tennis balls. Another variation for older kids: when doing multiple balls, use balls of different sizes and/or texture.
HUMAN KNOT Ask a group of ten or thirteen people to form a tight circle. Have each person extend both hands into the center, and grasp the hand of two different people. When this is completed, the group must then untangle the knot they have created. Physical hand-to-hand contact may not be broken to untangle the knot. Grips may change and palms may pivot on one another, but contact must be maintained. If time is running out, the problem can be simplified by breaking one grip and asking the group to form a single line instead of a circle.
BLIND HEIGHT ALIGNMENT Blindfold each member of the group, and instruct them to align themselves according to height. Group members are not allowed to talk to each other, and blindfolds must remain in place throughout this activity.
BLIND SQUARE The object of this game is to have a group of at least eight participants form a perfect square while blindfolded. After participants have put on blindfolds, place a rope that is tied in a circle, in each person's hands. Participants must then form the rope into the shape of a square. When they believe the square has been formed, the participants place the rope carefully on the ground and remove their blindfolds. All participants must have at least one hand on the rope at all times.
MINEFIELD Have group discuss things that are detrimental to functioning as a group. For each characteristic/action, throw an object into the playing space, the "minefield." Have group choose partners. One partner is blindfolded at one end of field. The non-blindfolded partners stand at the opposite end of the field and try to talk their partners through the minefield without running into any of the obstacles.
TOXIC RIVER Everyone is on one side. You measure a space about 5 feet and call it a toxic river. You want the whole squad to cross as fast as they can. They aren't allowed to cross the toxic river without special pair of boots and there is only one pair of boots. Each person can use the boots only once. The boots cannot be tossed over the river. Each person has to personally give the boots to the next person and if they touch the toxic waste without the boots, the team must start over. Hint: Carrying people over is the key.
TOXIC WASTE
Toxic Waste - in Action
This is a popular, engaging small group initiative activity which always provides a rich teamwork challenge for about 30-45 minutes. Involves thinking, imagination, action, fantasy, risk and an attractive solution.
Can be done with adolescents or adults.
The challenge is to move the toxic waste contents to the "neutralization" container using minimal equipment and maintaining a safe distance within a time limit.
Moderately difficult - avoid using with groups who are still in the early stages of group development. Works best towards the end of a program and/or after the group has come together and dealt with basic teamwork issues.
Can be done indoors or outdoors; outdoors is more dramatic because water can be used as the "toxic waste" instead of balls.
Set-Up
Toxic Waste
Use the rope to create a circle at least 8 ft in diameter on the ground to represent the toxic waste radiation zone. The larger the radiation zone, the more difficult the activity.
Place the small bucket in the center of the radiation zone and fill it with water or balls to represent the toxic waste.
Place the large neutralization bucket approximately 30 to 50 feet away. The greater the distance, the more difficult the activity.
Put all other equipment (i.e., bungee, cords, and red herring objects (optional)) in a pile near the rope circle.
Directions
The challenge is for the group to work out how to transfer the toxic waste from the small bucket into the large bucket where it will be "neutralized", using only the equipment provided and within a time frame. The waste will blow up and destroy the world after 20 minutes if it is not neutralized.
Anyone who ventures into the radiation zone will suffer injury and possibly even death, and spillage will create partial death and destruction. Therefore, the group should aim to save the world and do so without injury to any group members.
The rope circle represents the radiation zone emanating from the toxic waste in the bucket. Emphasize that everyone must maintain a distance (circle radius) from the toxic waste wherever it goes, otherwise they will suffer severe injury, such as loss of a limb or even death.
Give the group some planning time with no action e.g. 5 mins. Then start the clock and indicate it is time for action, e.g., 15 or 20 mins.
Facilitator Notes
Toxic Waste is not an easy exercise and most groups will benefit from some coaching along the way.
The solution involves attaching the cords to the bungee loop, then guiding the bungee with the strings to sit around and grab the toxic waste bucket. Then with everyone pulling on their cord and with good coordination and care, the toxic waste bucket can be lifted, moved and tipped into the empty neutralizing bucket.
If someone breaches the toxic waste zone, indicated by the circle, enforce an appropriate penalty e.g., loss of limbs (hand behind back) or function (e.g., blindfolds if a head enters the zone) that lasts for the rest of the game. If a whole person enters the zone, they die and must then sit out for the rest of the activity.
If the group struggles to work out what to do, freeze the action and help them discuss.
If the group spills the waste entirely, make a big deal about catastrophic failure (everyone dies), invite them to discuss what went wrong and how they can do better, then refill the container and let them have another go.
Ideas for varying the level difficulty of the activity:
Adjust timeframe
Adjust distance between the buckets
Include obstacles between the buckets
Include red herring objects in available equipment
Processing Ideas
There are invariably plenty of key communications and decisions during the exercise that provide for fruitful debriefing.
The exercise will tend to naturally expose processes and issues related to many aspects of teamwork, including cooperation, communication, trust, empowerment, risk-taking, support, problem-solving, decision-making, and leadership.
Can be videoed for subsequent analysis and debriefing.
How successful was the group? e.g., consider:
How long did it take?
Was there any spillage?
Were there any injuries? (Often in the euphoria of finishing participants will overlook their errors and seem unconcerned about injuries and deaths caused by carelessness along the way. Make sure there is an objective evaluation of performance - it is rarely 'perfect'.)
How well did the group cope with this challenge? (e.g., out of 10?)
What was the initial reaction of the group?
What skills did it take for the group to be successful?
What would an outside observer have seen as the strengths and weaknesses of the group?
How did the group come up with its best ideas?
What did each group member learn about him/her self as a group member?
What lessons did the group learn from this exercise which could be applied to future situations?
Can be used as a staff selection or group assessment exercise.
Can be used with large groups (with multiple kits and divided into small groups).
The toxic waste bucket can be used upside down, with a ball balanced on top.
The activity can be framed in many different ways, e.g., instead of waste, it could presented as a desirable substance, such as a life saving serum which needs be carefully transported (suggested by Rohnke & Butler, 1995, pp.178-179).
Divide the group into leaders and workers. Leaders can talk but not touch equipment. Workers cannot talk but can touch equipment.
Lends itself to being metaphorically structured and isometrically framed to suit specific training contexts (e.g., see "Computer Disinfectant" by Gass & Priest in Gass, 1995, pp. 151-154) and "Disseminating Raw Materials (Toxic Waste)", activity #57 in Priest & Rohnke 2000).
For added drama, the toxic waste can be floated on a platform in a swimming pool (Priest & Rohnke 2000).
A chemical reaction can be created by putting baking soda in the neutralization container and vinegar in the toxic waste container. When combined, they froth.
Object Retrieval is a variation in which a group needs to retrieve a heavy object from the middle of a circle, without touching the ground in the surrounding circle (Rohnke, 1994).
HUMAN LETTERS Divide the squad into groups of 4 to 5 people. The coach calls out a letter. Each group has to spell out the letter on the ground with their bodies. The group to get the letter the fastest, or the most accurate, wins. Keep score.
HELIUM STICK (or HULA HOOP)
Deceptively simple but powerful exercise for learning how to work together and communicate in small to medium sized groups.
Line up in two rows which face each other.
Introduce the Helium Stick- a long, thin, lightweight rod.
Ask participants to point their index fingers and hold their arms out.
Lay the Helium Stick down on their fingers. Get the group to adjust their finger heights until the Helium Stick is horizontal and everyone's index fingers are touching the stick.
Explain that the challenge is to lower the Helium Stick to the ground.
The catch: Each person's fingers must be in contact with the Helium Stick at all times. Pinching or grabbing the pole in not allowed - it must rest on top of fingers.
Multi-Way Tug-of-War
Fun, finale-type activity. Physically exhausting and emotionally climaxing!
Works for kids through to corporate programs. Ideal for adolescents and possibly youth at risk. Especially with older adults, be careful with this activity, especially if they are unfit or if overexertion is contraindicated (e.g., heart problems).
Use for any size groups, indoor or outdoor. Ideal is large group outdoors.
Multi-Way Tug-Of-War
Pick a soft location e.g., grass/beach.
In traditional 1 on 1 tug-of-war it is mostly strength that wins, with a few tactics.
In multi-way tug-of-war it is mostly tactics that wins, with some strength.
Participants should prepare appropriately e.g., watches and hand jewellery off.
Divide into groups and make sure the groups appear to be of similar strength.
Brief group on normal tug-of-war safety rules, basically:
no wrapping or tying rope around anyone or anything - only hold rope with hands
watch out for rope burn on hands - let go if rope is moving through hands
watch out for rope burn on body - let go if you lose footing
First command from the Tug-of-War master is "take the strain". This is only to take up the slack, that's all. The Tug-of-War master makes sure the centre ring is stable and centered. This needs strong leadership because teams are always keen to add extra strain!
Second command is "Go!!"
Teams attempt to pull the center ring or knot over their finish line. This can rarely be achieved by strength alone and instead will require guile. Teams can swivel to cooperate / compete with other teams, then switch directions, etc.
Conduct several rounds. Continue, say, until one team earns 3 victories and the Tug-of-War title.
Allow teams plenty of time to physically recover and debrief/plan after each round.
Team building groups may wish to discuss what the secrets to success were in this activity - and whether these lessons apply elsewhere.
Or make your own 4 way tug of war with several good quality ropes each ~60ft+ with attachment e.g., via knots, splicing or ring/karabiners
Time
~30-60 minutes
Brief Description
: Fun, physically demanding, competitive team activity. Several teams pull against each other, requiring communication and tactics as well as strength to outmanoeuvre and win.
Team Building Activities
Processing Ideas
GROUP JUGGLING
Players form a circle. The leader gives each member a number. Consecutively numbered people should not be near each other, but across the circle from each other. The players must then toss a ball starting with person #1 up to the last numbered person who returns the ball to person #1. As the players get used to the pattern with one ball, add another, and another, etc.For smaller children, whose coordination is still developing, use stuffed animals to toss. Lower elementary children can use medium to large nerf balls, while junior high and above can use tennis balls.
Another variation for older kids: when doing multiple balls, use balls of different sizes and/or texture.
HUMAN KNOT
Ask a group of ten or thirteen people to form a tight circle. Have each person extend both hands into the center, and grasp the hand of two different people. When this is completed, the group must then untangle the knot they have created.
Physical hand-to-hand contact may not be broken to untangle the knot. Grips may change and palms may pivot on one another, but contact must be maintained. If time is running out, the problem can be simplified by breaking one grip and asking the group to form a single line instead of a circle.
BLIND HEIGHT ALIGNMENT
Blindfold each member of the group, and instruct them to align themselves according to height. Group members are not allowed to talk to each other, and blindfolds must remain in place throughout this activity.
BLIND SQUARE
The object of this game is to have a group of at least eight participants form a perfect square while blindfolded. After participants have put on blindfolds, place a rope that is tied in a circle, in each person's hands. Participants must then form the rope into the shape of a square. When they believe the square has been formed, the participants place the rope carefully on the ground and remove their blindfolds. All participants must have at least one hand on the rope at all times.
MINEFIELD
Have group discuss things that are detrimental to functioning as a group. For each characteristic/action, throw an object into the playing space, the "minefield." Have group choose partners. One partner is blindfolded at one end of field. The non-blindfolded partners stand at the opposite end of the field and try to talk their partners through the minefield without running into any of the obstacles.
TOXIC RIVER
Everyone is on one side. You measure a space about 5 feet and call it a toxic river. You want the whole squad to cross as fast as they can. They aren't allowed to cross the toxic river without special pair of boots and there is only one pair of boots. Each person can use the boots only once. The boots cannot be tossed over the river. Each person has to personally give the boots to the next person and if they touch the toxic waste without the boots, the team must start over. Hint: Carrying people over is the key.
TOXIC WASTE
Toxic Waste - in Action
This is a popular, engaging small group initiative activity which always provides a rich teamwork challenge for about 30-45 minutes. Involves thinking, imagination, action, fantasy, risk and an attractive solution.- Can be done with adolescents or adults.
- The challenge is to move the toxic waste contents to the "neutralization" container using minimal equipment and maintaining a safe distance within a time limit.
- Moderately difficult - avoid using with groups who are still in the early stages of group development. Works best towards the end of a program and/or after the group has come together and dealt with basic teamwork issues.
- Can be done indoors or outdoors; outdoors is more dramatic because water can be used as the "toxic waste" instead of balls.
Set-Up
Toxic Waste
Use the rope to create a circle at least 8 ft in diameter on the ground to represent the toxic waste radiation zone. The larger the radiation zone, the more difficult the activity.- Place the small bucket in the center of the radiation zone and fill it with water or balls to represent the toxic waste.
- Place the large neutralization bucket approximately 30 to 50 feet away. The greater the distance, the more difficult the activity.
- Put all other equipment (i.e., bungee, cords, and red herring objects (optional)) in a pile near the rope circle.
Directions- The challenge is for the group to work out how to transfer the toxic waste from the small bucket into the large bucket where it will be "neutralized", using only the equipment provided and within a time frame. The waste will blow up and destroy the world after 20 minutes if it is not neutralized.
- Anyone who ventures into the radiation zone will suffer injury and possibly even death, and spillage will create partial death and destruction. Therefore, the group should aim to save the world and do so without injury to any group members.
- The rope circle represents the radiation zone emanating from the toxic waste in the bucket. Emphasize that everyone must maintain a distance (circle radius) from the toxic waste wherever it goes, otherwise they will suffer severe injury, such as loss of a limb or even death.
- Give the group some planning time with no action e.g. 5 mins. Then start the clock and indicate it is time for action, e.g., 15 or 20 mins.
Facilitator Notes- Toxic Waste is not an easy exercise and most groups will benefit from some coaching along the way.
- The solution involves attaching the cords to the bungee loop, then guiding the bungee with the strings to sit around and grab the toxic waste bucket. Then with everyone pulling on their cord and with good coordination and care, the toxic waste bucket can be lifted, moved and tipped into the empty neutralizing bucket.
- If someone breaches the toxic waste zone, indicated by the circle, enforce an appropriate penalty e.g., loss of limbs (hand behind back) or function (e.g., blindfolds if a head enters the zone) that lasts for the rest of the game. If a whole person enters the zone, they die and must then sit out for the rest of the activity.
- If the group struggles to work out what to do, freeze the action and help them discuss.
- If the group spills the waste entirely, make a big deal about catastrophic failure (everyone dies), invite them to discuss what went wrong and how they can do better, then refill the container and let them have another go.
- Ideas for varying the level difficulty of the activity:
- Adjust timeframe
- Adjust distance between the buckets
- Include obstacles between the buckets
- Include red herring objects in available equipment
Processing Ideas- There are invariably plenty of key communications and decisions during the exercise that provide for fruitful debriefing.
- The exercise will tend to naturally expose processes and issues related to many aspects of teamwork, including cooperation, communication, trust, empowerment, risk-taking, support, problem-solving, decision-making, and leadership.
- Can be videoed for subsequent analysis and debriefing.
- How successful was the group? e.g., consider:
- How long did it take?
- Was there any spillage?
- Were there any injuries? (Often in the euphoria of finishing participants will overlook their errors and seem unconcerned about injuries and deaths caused by carelessness along the way. Make sure there is an objective evaluation of performance - it is rarely 'perfect'.)
- How well did the group cope with this challenge? (e.g., out of 10?)
- What was the initial reaction of the group?
- What skills did it take for the group to be successful?
- What would an outside observer have seen as the strengths and weaknesses of the group?
- How did the group come up with its best ideas?
- What did each group member learn about him/her self as a group member?
- What lessons did the group learn from this exercise which could be applied to future situations?
- More information on Facilitation and creative debrief and processing tools
VariationsHUMAN LETTERS
Divide the squad into groups of 4 to 5 people. The coach calls out a letter. Each group has to spell out the letter on the ground with their bodies. The group to get the letter the fastest, or the most accurate, wins. Keep score.
HELIUM STICK (or HULA HOOP)
Multi-Way Tug-of-War
Equipment
4 way powerpull with 20 loops for double handed pulls or 40 loops for single handed pulls by a large groupTime
~30-60 minutes
Brief Description
: Fun, physically demanding, competitive team activity. Several teams pull against each other, requiring communication and tactics as well as strength to outmanoeuvre and win.